Rural/Farming / Public News Service

Despite some state space improvements, about 60% of U.S. egg-laying hens are still kept in cramped battery cages, each with less space than a sheet of paper. (Alex/AdobeStock)

Friday, April 18, 2025

Pennsylvania egg brand agrees to drop ‘free-roaming’ label

By Jessica Scott-Reid for Sentient Climate.Broadcast version by Danielle Smith for Keystone State News Connection reporting for the Sentient-Public Ne…

When cows eat plant cover faster than it can regrow, it erodes and degrades the soil beneath, making it more susceptible to runoff and other undesirable consequences. (Saed/Adobe Stock)

Friday, April 18, 2025

WA cattle grazing can harm 'food webs'

By Seth Millstein for Sentient Climate.Broadcast version by Isobel Charle for Washington News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service C…

Some North Dakota towns have seen plans come together for large-scale dairy operations, prompting debate about what kinds of tools local communities should have in restricting them due to environmental concerns. (Adobe Stock)

Thursday, April 17, 2025

ND farm towns prepare for life with new animal feedlot law

Starting next year, North Dakota will have a new law in place that covers local zoning restrictions for animal feedlots. The bill's passage follows a …

The United States is the third-largest pork producer in the world and already exports around one-third of the pork it produces domestically. (Chayakorn/Adobe Stock)

Thursday, April 17, 2025

Chinese-owned farms press for repeal of CA animal welfare law

By Seth Millstein for Sentient.Broadcast version by Suzanne Potter for California News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collabor…

Iowa produced 2.5 billion bushels of corn in 2023, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. (Adobe Stock)

Thursday, April 17, 2025

Iowa farmers question need for treated seeds

By Lisa Held for Civil Eats.Broadcast version by Mark Moran for Iowa News Service reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-Public News Service C…

Colorado is the second-largest fresh potato growing region in the nation, and the crop is a significant financial driver in the rural San Luis Valley. (Adobe Stock)

Thursday, April 17, 2025

DOGE funding cuts could impact America's 'seed bunkers'

Scientists at 22 U.S. sites including in Fort Collins have been working without fanfare to maintain the the genetic diversity of the nation's …

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Wednesday, April 16, 2025

MAHA movement aims to reverse American farming policy

By Jessica Scott-Reid for Sentient.Broadcast version by Kathryn Carley for Ohio News Connection reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collabo…

Potatoes are one of 200 crops pivotal to the U.S. food system. DOGE has made cuts to the U.S. agency that maintains the crops' genetics and seed supply. (Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, April 16, 2025

DOGE cuts funding to seed banks, threatens WY. food security

Federal scientists at 22 U.S. sites maintain the nation's agricultural seed stores collected since 1898 but the Trump administration's DOGE agency …

The Honor Farmer Contracts Act would require the USDA to give a 60-day notice of any agency closures. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., is among those who introduced the bill last month. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, April 15, 2025

Proposed bill aims to pay farmers back for disrupted grants

A Wisconsin-based nonprofit hopes a new law can help some of its struggling farmers quickly recoup federal grant funds they are owed. The Honor …

Global food security depends on work done by U.S. National Plant Germplasm System. Its scientists and funding are on the DOGE chopping block. (s1llu/Adobe Stock/AI enhanced)<br />

America's historic crops at risk as DOGE cuts funding for seed bunkers

Working without fanfare, federal scientists at 22 U.S. sites maintain the nation's agricultural plant species collected since 1898, including crops …

The Texas horned lizard currently is listed as a threatened species in Texas. It can be found from the south-central United States to northern Mexico, throughout much of Texas, Kansas, New Mexico and Oklahoma. (David McGowen/Adobe Stock)

From horny toad to Guadalupe bass, Texans work to save wildlife

Wildlife conservationists are working with landowners and concerned Texans to recover at-risk species. Currently, more than 1,100 animals from …

According to the 2022 Census of Agriculture, 41% of beginning producers were female, as opposed to 36% of all U.S. producers. (Adobe Stock)

Congress aims to assist new farmers with accessing land in OH, nationwide

Ohio ranks fourth in the nation for the number of farms, with more than 75,000, and beginning farmers in the Buckeye State and nationwide may soon be …

The study analyzed 56 million cow-level production records across 18,000 dairy farms from 2012 to 2016. (Adobe Stock)

New study: Small farms disproportionately impacted by extreme heat

A new study shows how extreme weather conditions negatively affect production yields on Midwest dairy farms, with a disproportionate impact on …

Some 18% of farms operated by beginning farmers report sales of $50,000 or more, compared to 26% of farms run by established producers. (DisobeyArt/Adobe Stock)

Lawmakers unite to address farmland access 'crisis,' in MI and beyond

Michigan ranks 15th in the nation for its number of farms, with 44,000, a slight decrease from 2023 and reflects a national decline. Now, beginning …

Steps for poultry farmers to prevent bird flu include restricting birds' movement and enhancing farm sanitation practices. (Adobe Stock)

Poll: People fear bird flu's impact on finances over health

Since January, there have been outbreaks of H5N1 avian influenza on four commercial farms in Maryland, affecting nearly 800,000 chickens meant for …

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship investigated 326 cases of pesticide misuse in 2022. (Adobe Stock)

Pesticide 'Cancer Gag Act' dead in Iowa

A bill which would have given pesticide companies legal immunity from health problems caused by their products did not make it through the legislature…

North Dakota farmers said the financial strain they are feeling is not only the result of another global trade war. They say rising expenses, like machinery, are eating into their profits. (Adobe Stock)

ND farmers back push in Congress to rein in tariffs

With planting season here, North Dakota farmers have plenty on their minds, including the escalating trade war and some hope a bipartisan bill in …

The 1,500 Black farmers in Arkansas grow everything from soybeans to corn, cotton, peas and sweet potatoes. (JackF/Adobe Stock)

Black AR farmers mostly unaffected by USDA funding freeze

U.S. Department of Agriculture cuts have affected farming communities nationwide but a national group said Black farmers are largely unaffected…

According to the 2022 Census of Agriculture, 41% of beginning producers were female, compared with 36% of all U.S. producers. (Kostiantyn/Adobe Stock)

Bipartisan bill aims to tackle farmland access crisis in MO, nationwide

Missouri ranks second in the nation for the number of farms, with more than 85,000. Beginning farmers in the state and across the nation may soon …

In the Biden administration's final year, the USDA and EPA reaffirmed a goal to halve food waste by 2030 but supermarkets are not legally required to comply. Retailers can help by donating unsold food and educating consumers on cutting waste at home. (lado2016/Adobe Stock)<br />

Report: Major supermarkets fail to cut food-related methane emissions

By Dawn Attride for Sentient.Broadcast version by Danielle Smith for Tennessee News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collaborati…

The Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas says it hopes to work with local farmers again in some capacity in the future. (Daniel Vincek/Adobe Stock)

Food-insecure AR families could suffer because of federal cuts

Arkansas families who are food insecure could be hurt by federal cuts to programs and services. Those fighting the war on hunger across the Natural …

Chronic Wasting Disease is a fatal neurological disease affecting deer, elk and moose. (Adobe Stock)

Wyoming elk occupancy agreements aim to rein in cattle conflicts

Wyoming's practice of feeding elk over winters is a century old but the spread of disease has increased concerns. Now, the Greater Yellowstone …

USDA data show Black farmers have lost 90% of their land since 1910, while Florida has lost more than 300,000 acres of farmland since 2017. (Pixabay)

FL coalition joins call to honor USDA contracts, support small farmers

Many Floridians watched as Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.Y., set a record for his historic 24-hour-plus Senate floor speech protesting President Donald …

Some two million gray wolves roamed North America in the early 1800s but today, fewer than 7,000 remain on just 10% of their historic range in the Lower 48 States. (Adobe Stock)

Colorado's Boebert targets renewed effort to remove federal wolf protections

Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., has introduced a bill to remove gray wolves from the list of endangered and threatened species under the Endangered …

Economists with the American Farm Bureau Federation said there are still unknowns but it is clear the escalating trade war will decrease demand for U.S. products in the second- and third-largest export markets for American farmers. (Adobe Stock)

Federal moves leave MN farmers in state of limbo

The Trump administration announces its new wave of tariffs Wednesday, and with U.S. Department of Agriculture funding still a question mark, …

The Little Village Environmental Justice Organization has become as much as a landmark to the community as the Little Village Arch and was awarded the national Food Sovereignty Prize in 2024. (City of Chicago 2021)

Chicago nonprofit transforms former toxic site to feed community

By Angela Burke for Civil Eats.Broadcast version by Judith Ruiz-Branch for Illinois News Connection reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-Pub…

The Black Farmers and Agriculturalists Association is challenging the U.S. Department of Agriculture's denial of $2.2 billion in Inflation Reduction Act funds to Black farmers' heirs at the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, arguing while white farmers' families inherit benefits, Black farmers' descendants are excluded. (La Famiglia/Adobe Stock)

Discrimination shields some Black farmers from USDA funding freezes

Cuts at the U.S. Department of Agriculture have affected farming communities nationwide but a national group said its Black farmers remain unaffected…

Under tariffs imposed by the first Trump administration, losses for farmers prompted a $23 billion taxpayer-funded bailout. (Adobe Stock)

Colorado farmers brace for new round of Trump tariffs

President Donald Trump is set to impose sweeping global tariffs this week, a move expected to spark retaliation against a range of American products …

If passed, the bipartisan Farm Ownership Improvement Act would allow the USDA up to two years to create and fully implement a pre-qualification or pre-approval process that addresses the needs of young farmers and ranchers. (asafaric/Adobe Stock)

Bipartisan bill could improve land access for new PA farmers

Despite a federal funding freeze, a newly proposed bipartisan bill in the U.S. Senate could enhance loan programs for farmers. Backers say in …

Iowa has about 400,000 acres of wetlands, down from an estimated 4 to 6 million acres, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. (Adobe Stock)

Federal judge to decide fate of IA 'Swampbuster' wetlands program

A federal judge in Cedar Rapids hears arguments today in a case that could make or break the future of wetland protection programs in the state…

Nebraska harvested 9.5 million acres of corn in 2023, making it the third-largest corn producing state in the country. (Adobe Stock)

Nebraska farm leaders call for 'trade de-escalation'

Nebraska farm leaders are asking the Trump administration and the European Union to deescalate a trade war developing over tariffs. The National …

Midwest researchers say a deduction in the 2017 federal tax cut law has boosted the economic activity generated by agriculture cooperatives. In 2022, they say it led to $1.25 billion in economic impact in South Dakota, North Dakota, and Minnesota. (Adobe Stock)

SD research: Power of ag co-ops intersects with controversial tax law

A new study says agriculture co-ops are a strong economic force in states like South Dakota - but their future is murky, because of federal tax cuts …

Preventive steps for poultry farmers regarding bird flu include restricting bird movement and enhancing farm sanitation practices. (PordeeStudio/Adobe Stock)

Poll: Americans fear bird flu's effect on finances over personal health

In January, H5N1 avian influenza struck more than 400,000 birds in Missouri, making it the second-highest state for affected flocks at the time and a …

In 2022, U.S. sales of poultry and eggs totaled $76.5 billion, 14.1% of total U.S. agriculture sales.(Adobe Stock)

Could egg supply and demand be helping avian flu spread?

By Seth Millstein for Sentient.Broadcast version by Alex Gonzalez for Arizona News Connection reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collabora…

Biosolids, also known as sewage sludge, were applied to farms in Johnson County as fertilizer to boost crop fertility. (zimmytws/Adobe Stock)

North TX county sues feds over PFAS contamination

By Sara Hashemi for Sentient.Broadcast version by Freda Ross for Texas News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collaboration John…

The USDA reported since April 2024, there have been avian influenza virus detections in 336 commercial flocks and 207 backyard flocks, for a total of more than 90.9 million birds affected.(Adobe Stock)<br />

Poll: Americans concerned about bird flu effects on wallets over health

West Virginians are more concerned about bird flu's effect on grocery costs rather than health implications, and Republican voters are more likely to …

Washington state officials have been ordered to issue new regulations to keep the runoff from concentrated animal feeding operations, also known as factory farms, from polluting nearby streams and waterways. (Adobe Stock)

Court orders WA to rewrite CAFO dairy operation permit regulations

The Washington State Pollution Control Hearings Board is ordering state officials to rewrite pollution discharge permit regulations for concentrated a…

Iowa factory farms dump approximately 109 billion pounds of manure each year, much of which winds up in nearby groundwater, according to Food and Water Watch. (Adobe Stock)

Iowa's cancer rate is an 'outlier,' but why?

By Nina B. Elkadi for Sentient.Broadcast version by Mark Moran for Iowa News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collaboration In …

According to the Wyoming Department of Education, Farm to School programs grew to include 90% of schools in the state last fall. The program has been cut by the Trump administration. (Adobe Stock)

Cuts to local food programs affect WY schools, food banks, producers

Federal programs supporting local food purchasing by food banks and schools have helped feed communities and support farmers but the Trump administrat…

The findings of a study on farmer's reactions to drought conditions will provide valuable insights to help shape more sustainable agricultural practices and water conservation strategies. (Bits and Splits/Adobe Stock)

Grant money used to study drought practices of AR farmers

Students and professors at the University of Arkansas-Little Rock are studying farmer's reactions to drought conditions. The university received a …

Red flag warnings and fire weather watches are the two main types of fire alerts the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association issues. (Adobe Stock)

NOAA staff cuts could affect Colorado wildfire, avalanche, flash flood warnings

Meteorologists are warning cuts to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will threaten Americans' safety, especially in states like …

The combination of inflation and avian influenza has caused egg prices to rise more than 350% per dozen compared to last year, according to the American Farm Bureau. (Adobe Stock)

Importing eggs won’t lower prices, experts say

By Nina B. Elkadi for Sentient.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan for West Virginia News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service …

The National School Lunch Program, created in 1946 as part of the National School Lunch Act, provides federal dollars to schools for food purchases. (Adobe Stock)

Co-ops help more KY school districts participate in local produce bidding

School staffing shortages can affect nutrition in Kentucky school districts, as many districts across the state rely on frozen, processed breakfast …

Farmworkers on the East Coast earn 35% less than the national average. (Adobe Stock)

A week of awareness of challenges farmworkers face

As today begins National Farmworker Awareness Week, North Carolina boasts the sixth-largest number of farmworkers of any state. More than 150,000 …

Mississippi wholesale eggs at $1.98 per dozen in March were 90% more expensive than in 2020, according to the USDA. (RENATOK/Pixabay)

MS egg prices stay high amid industry consolidation

By Nina B. Elkadi for Sentient.Broadcast version by Trimmel Gomes for Mississippi News Connection reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service …

WI nonprofit creates song to interest younger kids in soil science

A local nonprofit with a mission to advance regenerative agriculture is hoping its new video can open up an untapped world of science to a younger aud…

In 2024, the National Chicken Council estimated per capita consumption of chicken in the U.S. was 104 pounds. (Adobe Stock)

Something to crow about: Technology reduces male chick culling in IN

By Grace Hussain for Sentient.Broadcast version by Terri Dee for Indiana News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collaboration Eg…

New Mexico's highways are hazardous when dust storms called

NOAA employee cuts could curb forecasts of NM 'haboobs'

One of many federal agencies facing cuts by the Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency is the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adm…

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PNS Daily Newscast: Afternoon Update - April 18, 2025

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Rural/Farming

Pennsylvania egg brand agrees to drop ‘free-roaming’ label

WA cattle grazing can harm 'food webs'

ND farm towns prepare for life with new animal feedlot law

Chinese-owned farms press for repeal of CA animal welfare law

Iowa farmers question need for treated seeds

DOGE funding cuts could impact America's 'seed bunkers'

MAHA movement aims to reverse American farming policy

DOGE cuts funding to seed banks, threatens WY. food security

Proposed bill aims to pay farmers back for disrupted grants

America's historic crops at risk as DOGE cuts funding for seed bunkers

From horny toad to Guadalupe bass, Texans work to save wildlife

Congress aims to assist new farmers with accessing land in OH, nationwide

New study: Small farms disproportionately impacted by extreme heat

Lawmakers unite to address farmland access 'crisis,' in MI and beyond

Poll: People fear bird flu's impact on finances over health

Pesticide 'Cancer Gag Act' dead in Iowa

ND farmers back push in Congress to rein in tariffs

Black AR farmers mostly unaffected by USDA funding freeze

Bipartisan bill aims to tackle farmland access crisis in MO, nationwide

Report: Major supermarkets fail to cut food-related methane emissions

Food-insecure AR families could suffer because of federal cuts

Wyoming elk occupancy agreements aim to rein in cattle conflicts

FL coalition joins call to honor USDA contracts, support small farmers

Colorado's Boebert targets renewed effort to remove federal wolf protections

Federal moves leave MN farmers in state of limbo

Chicago nonprofit transforms former toxic site to feed community

Discrimination shields some Black farmers from USDA funding freezes

Colorado farmers brace for new round of Trump tariffs

Bipartisan bill could improve land access for new PA farmers

Federal judge to decide fate of IA 'Swampbuster' wetlands program

Nebraska farm leaders call for 'trade de-escalation'

SD research: Power of ag co-ops intersects with controversial tax law

Poll: Americans fear bird flu's effect on finances over personal health

Could egg supply and demand be helping avian flu spread?

North TX county sues feds over PFAS contamination

Poll: Americans concerned about bird flu effects on wallets over health

Court orders WA to rewrite CAFO dairy operation permit regulations

Iowa's cancer rate is an 'outlier,' but why?

Cuts to local food programs affect WY schools, food banks, producers

Grant money used to study drought practices of AR farmers

NOAA staff cuts could affect Colorado wildfire, avalanche, flash flood warnings

Importing eggs won’t lower prices, experts say

Co-ops help more KY school districts participate in local produce bidding

A week of awareness of challenges farmworkers face

MS egg prices stay high amid industry consolidation

WI nonprofit creates song to interest younger kids in soil science

Something to crow about: Technology reduces male chick culling in IN

NOAA employee cuts could curb forecasts of NM 'haboobs'